Self-wringing mop



Feb. 16, 1954 v. K. COOPER 2,668,970

I SELF-WRINGING MOP Filed March a, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V/QG/L K'A/NE'TH 600. 62,

INVENTOR.

BY I

prroewEV Feb. 16, 1954 COOPER 2,668,970

SELF-WRINGING MOP Filed March 8, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wee/L KE'NNETH coo/ 51e,

INVEN TOR.

Patented Feb. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE SELF-WRINGING MOP Virgil Kenneth Cooper, Hollywood, Calif.

Application March 8,1949, Serial No. 80,144

Claims. (01. 15-120) My invention relates generally to mops and more particularly to wet mops in the self-wringing class.

Mops may be divided into two general types, dry mops for removing dust or loose dirt which are often treated with chemicals to aid in dusting, and wet mops which are immersed in cleaning liquid and used to apply the latter to a floor or other surface to be cleaned. some mops of this second type are provided with wringing mechanisms to remove liquid from the cloth without the necessity of handling the cloth, and these are known as self -wringing mops.

The device I provide is an improved mop of this latter class having an efficient wringing means combined with a cloth guiding means and other advantageous features in a mop which may be easily manufactured and sold at a relatively low price. 1 One of the major advantages of using a selfwringing mop is that the user does not get dirty or wet when wringing the mop. Heretofore this advantage has been achieved by providing a wringing mechanism that is time-consuming in operation, and that does not wring the mop as well as does hand wringing. In addition, many such mops are bulky, awkward to handle, and cannot be moved easily into obstructed spaces. I have overcome these disadvantages in my improved mop whose wringing efliciency is equal or greater than that achieved by hand wringing. The guided cloth may be moved easily under projecting ledges, against baseboards, or into obstructed spaces, and is so designed as to present a large absorbent surface area without becoming bulky.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a mop wherein the wringing mechanism effects the liquid removal by a twisting and squeezing motion that is essentially the same as is used in hand wringing. The user has a mechanical advantage in operating the wringing mechanism, whereby the mop can be wrung drier than a conventional mop with the expenditure of considerably less energy. I

Another object of my invention is to provide a wringing mechanism which is always ready for use and which is operated by one simple motion.

A further object of my invention is to provide a mo cloth which has an inner stiffening means that holds the cloth in shape, and guides its movement as directed.

Still another object of my invention is to provide'a mop whose handle may be left standing substantially erect without external support.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device with the holder and attached cloth shown in detail,

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the stiffening rod pivoted forwardly within the guide slot,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation with the stiffening rod shown in the vertical position permitting rotation of the operating arm,

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 showing the shape of the upper cloth holder,

Fig. '7 is a perspective view showing a cloth partially fitted onto the cloth holder, and

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section with the stifiening rod shown pivoted rearwardly so that the mop handle will stand without external support.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, the numeral I9 indicates an elongated handle usually made of wood. Firmly held on the forward end of the handle I0 is a head I l carrying a mop cloth holder I2 to support thereon a mop cloth I 3. The cloth normally hangs downwardly and is engaged at its lower end with a spreader [4 as best seen in Fig. '7. Supporting the spreader I4 is a stifiening rod [5 which extends through the cloth l3 and is connected at its upper end to a rotatable operating arm it through a shaft I! so that the operating arm and spreader rotate together. The lower edge of the cloth l3 may thu be twisted with respect to its upper edge in a wringing action that removes liquid from the cloth.

The head II is a generally box-like structure which may be easily shaped from a single flat sheet of metal for economical and lightweight construction. A flat and generally horizontal upper wall 2| is held forwardly of the handle ID by a rear portion having rounded sides which converge inwardly to fit around the handle in the shape of an upper half 29a of a longitudinally split ferrule 20.

A central aperture in the wall 2| journals an operating shaft ll to be described later, and directs the shaft downwardly into the head H substantially perpendicular to the surface of the wall. The front of the upper wall 2| is bent downwardly to form a forward wall 22 which is inclined outwardly away from the handle IE5 and holder i2 to the head H, and the bottom wall diverges rearwardly from the upper wall 2| causing the holder to lie substantially horizontal;

when the mop handle IE1 is inclined upwardly at the normal angle for mopping. Th'e'sides ofthe box-like head H are open andrthejstructureiis x.

completed by a short rear wall 25 and a lower longitudinal half Zilb of the ferrule *whichfits around the handle I0," and with the upper half" 2009 forms a completecylindricahsleeve.

The ferrule 2t is-held together by suitablemean-s such as the pins ilt andthe head is firmly.='

attached to the handle it. ingmeans may be used butI'prefer the ferrule Other types of hold 2|) since it prevents end splitting'of thee-handle;

l0 and is easily formed,:whil'eit=is of course possible to modify the head or to form it in another manner; I prefer thefiparticular struc:

ture shown since it is sturdy'and lightweight;

The cloth holder I2 is preferably a formed. rod

or bar having a U-shaped' central section 38' whose mouth faces forwardly andhasopposed rectangular loop -3| extending laterally there:

from. The front portions ofthe loops 3| extend outwardly substantially perpendicular. to .the

side of the U shaped center section andlthe" lateral ends of the'loo'ps are curved rearwardly to form semi-circulat portions: substantially the width of the center section. The rear portions of the loops 3| extend inwardly parallelwto andrearwardly spaced from :the front portions and terminate near but do notiquite. meet-thezbase of the U-shaped center section 30. In effect, the holder |2 forms an oval loophavinga gap on closing the stiffeningrod i5 and the. sleeves 32' its rear side,.with' the. terminal ends. of theloops opposing each other at the edges. of the gap,

thus allowing the loop ends to be introducedinto:

a sleeve-like hem 32 of the mop .cloths'l3. previously mentioned; a pair of ears .24 are formed on the sides'of the bottom-wall 23,"and-v the holder I2 "is attached. to the he d ;by bend= ing the ears upwardly and inwardly around, the. side members of the section. 3!! to. form cyline drical enclosing sleeves The. holder |2zis=held perpendicular tov the handlerlil 'andatheloop's 3| extend laterally outwardly to. form with;;.the'- handle a T-shaped structure.

The spreader l4 is similarlyvformed.fromra U-shaped central portion -33 facing forwardly= with opposed rectangular loops.34 extending;-

single rod or bar having. a .slightlyindented or laterally therefrom. As in the cloth-holder. l2,

thelateral portions of the loops :34xarescurved and the end portion are rearwardly spaced from upwardly to connect'with the operating shaft The spreader :Hi may; if :desired, be formed-.- simplifywonstruc-a l H. integrally with the rod l5 to tion.

The cloth I3 is rectangular in shape to fit between the holder IE and the spreader I4 and may be of any suitable material for absorbing liquid such as string, rope, or loose weave cloth. The preferred form shown herein is of the strin type but any of the other types can be used equally well. The strands are formed as continuous loops in side-by-side relationship joined together and bound at the upper edge by the open ended sleeve-like hem 32 and: at the v:lower edge by a similar sleeve or hem 35. These sleeves are made of heavy doubled canvas or other suitablernaterial to pad the holder l2 and spreader l-l and firmly hold the strands in place.

To attach the cloth i3 on the holder it, one endcf thesleeve-32 is fitted over the rear ter minalendofone loop 3| and about one half of the length of the sleeve is pushed on this loop until th e" sleeve end is at the mouth of the U-shaped section 30 on the forward side of the holder. The otherendof the :sleeve 32 isithen started on the rear terminalend of the opposing. loop 3| and pushed around to the U-shaped. I

sectionlon :theforward-side of the holder. The

central portion ofthe sleeve 32-thuspasses rear.-

wardly of the base of the U-shaped section .35), andrthe cloth I3 formsa complete bag or envelope open only slightly at thefront. A par,-

tiallyinstalledcloth i3 is shown inFig. 7 and as can beseen, the ends ofthe sleeve 35 are similarly; fitted on the rear. opposing terminal... ends of the loops forming. thespreader. i l,

and the sleeve ends arepushed. around the loops, tomeet at thefront.

The cloth It forms a bag-light envelope enand. 35 pad the holder i2 and spreader id so that none of the frame members can scratch or otherwise mar the floor. The holder l2 and spreader -.|4- holdtheoloth it firmly thereon and it cannotwcomeofieven when considerable. force is applied in wringing. Furthermore, the cloth al- As will be remembered, the operating shaft I7.

is journaled in'the upper wall 2| and extends downwardly into the box-like head H in a substantiallyyertical direction. A horizontal opening is, boredinthelower end of the shaft I1 and an upper section 4|of an L-shaped hook .end 40 on the stiffening rod 1 5 is pivotallyheld there.-

in, the, rod 15 being rotatable with the shaft or free to pivotseparatelyin a vertical. plane aboutmthehook section 4|. Formed in the forward Wal1-22ofthe head I is a vertical guide slot 42 which extends through. theclbottom wall 23 andup a short distance on the rear wall .25 to determine a vertical plane extending along the-longitudinal axis-of the mop. The rod 15 may rotate or pivot within. this. slot 42 which is of sufficient width to permit free movement therein, but necessarily restricts lateral movement of the rod. The ends of the slot 42 determinethe forward andrearward .limitsaof the arc. in which the rod l5may pivotsand the rear-limit of thevarclis. also determined by the base'of the. U,-shape d sec-.

tion 30 which lies transversely a'crossthe slot 42. When the rod I5 bears against the base of the U-shaped section 30 the handle I is able to stand without external support as will be described hereinafter.

At the upper end of the shaft I'I above the wall 2I is another horizontally bored opening which carries one end of the operating arm I6, the opposite end of the'arm being upturned and supporting a rotatable hand knob 43. When the arm I6 is in its normal position it points along the longitudinal axis of the mop towards the handle I0 and in this position, the lower opening carrying the hook section M is transversely directed across the head II and is perpendicular to the arm l6 so that the rod I is free to pivot in the plane determined by the guide slot 42.

Thisposition of the arm I6 is best seen in Fig. 4 wherein the rod I5 has pivoted forwardly about the hook section M. It is to be noted that once the rod I5 has pivoted forwardly or rearwardly the operating arm I6 cannot be rotated since the angled connection between the shaft I1 and the rod would cause the rod to swing laterally as the shaft rotates, and the guide slot 42 restricts lateral movement of the rod. When the mop is raised from the floor, the weight of the spreader I4 and the cloth I3 causes the rod I5 to fall to the vertical position and the arm I6 is then free to rotate as shown in Fig. 5.

The shaft I1 is held from axial movement by collar means above and below the wall 2I and v in the preferred form I show an economical and satisfactory way of doing this, although of course other types of collar or shoulder means may be used. On the shaft II below the wall 2I are two collars or washers 44 spaced apart by a thicker resilient washer 45, the lower collar seating against a small shoulder 46 on the shaft. In assembling the 'mechanism the shaft I I is pushed up through the aperture in the wall 2I until the upper collar 44 bears against the wall 2 I. A similar collar 41 is then fitted over the upper end of the shaft I1 and held in place against the wall 2I by the arm I6 which is inserted through the upper horizontal opening in the shaft. In order to push the end of the arm I6 through the shaft II it is necessary to somewhat compress the resilient washer 45, hence after being assembled the arm I6 is held tightly against the upper washer 41 and the shaft is restricted from axial movement or from rotation due to vibration or jarring.

Rotation of the arm I6 rotates the rod I5 and the attached spreader I4 to twist the mop cloth I3 between the spreader and holder I2.-

The wringing action which occursis basically the same as the conventional action of holding the mop head in one hand and twisting the cloth with the other hand. The user holds the handle In with one hand and rotates the arm It with the other. This single motion is made easy even for a person of slight strength because the leverage of the arm I6 gives the user a mechanical squeezes the cloth; All of the liquid wrung from the mop cloth is directed downwardly and there is no necessity for the user to get dirty or wet. When the mop is wrung dry the arm I6 is reversely rotated to its normal position and the stiffening rod I5 is free to pivot forwardly or rearwardly in the guide slot 42. The rod I5 is normally pivoted forwardly as best seen in Fig. 4 and the rear surface of the cloth I3 is used to mop the floor. As previously mentioned, the mop can be pushed or pulled without affecting the shape of the cloth I3, and because of the guiding mechanism it may be easily moved into corners or the like. There is no restriction on the mopping angle and the handle II] can be lowered level with the floor if it is desired to push the mop under a low overhang.

Since the cloth I3 and rod I5 hang vertically when the mop is elevated from the floor, it is easy to pivot the rod rearwardly and utilize the front side of the cloth I3 for mopping. This greatlyincreases the liquid absorbing capacity of the cloth I3 and permits less frequent wringing. In this position, shown only in Fig. 8, the handle I0 may be left standing substantially erect without external support. As the rod I5 pivots rearwardly it is limited in its travel by the base of the U-shaped section 30 which extends across the guide slot 42. The rod I5 bears upwardly against the base of the U-shaped section 30 and the handle I0 is held in an upwardly inclined position. The laterally extending holder I2 and spreader I4 which are enclosed within the cloth I3 form a substantially rectangular base upon which the mop stands firmly. This feature is very desirable when an interruption forces the user to leave the mop temporarily and avoids the frequent mishaps caused by leaving the mop standing within the mop bucket or inclined against a vertical surface.

It is to be noted that the latter feature has been provided without additional mechanism and it can be seen that throughout the mop there is a simplicity of construction. All of the parts are lightweight and easily formed and yet the complete mop is sturdy and durable. It is also apparent that various modificationscan be made in the design and construction by those skilled in v an aperture therethrough transverse of said handle and a vertical guide slot therein; a rigid holder extending laterally from said member and adapted to carry the upper edge of a mop cloth; a shaft rotatably mounted in said aperture; a stiffening rod extending outwardly through said guide slot and pivotally connected at its upper end to said shaft for free movement along the plane of said slot through operating position angled forwardly and rearwardly of said handle to a wringing position in. substantial alignment with said shaft, the pivotal connection being on an axis perpendicular to said shaft axis, whereby said stiffening rod is rotatable with said shaft in the wringing position and is held against rotation in the operating positions by the edges of said guide slot; a lateral spreader connected to the free end of said rod and adapted to engage witlrtherlower edgctofizsaid: cloth tfandiamoperat-i-v ing'iarm.l.eonnectedrto said'shaftilalcovei said- :head

member etc 1' rotate; saidsmpreaderqwhen said rod is irr'th'eilwringingipositioni; 7'?

2. .selfi-zwringing: mop;=.-,whi-oh.i includes::-.- a

handle; a: hea'drrmemben attached rigidlytto the/.- forwardu end of: 1 said iihandlem a2 lateral holder. extending rigidly :fromssaid::member ifor rengage-v ment with the fuppertedgeiofia mop; cloth; shaft means-mounted. in saidmemberforrotation about an \axi sstransuerse s ofa: said: handle ivertical guide means insaidsheartmember:extending longitudi: nally' of saidxizh-arrdle; .aastifiteninggrod extending; outwardly; thriouglm saidirguider means and :pivota i any connectedr.:.aat its i upper; endlto I said i shaft 1 meansi for) ireei mowement 1' along the plane;- of, a

said guide means through operatingaposition angledfiforwardlyl andwrearwardly; of :said- "handle to Eras wringing- 2, position" in. substantial align-i;

meat with said shatt, .thepivotal connection.

beingzon an: axisperpendicularg-tosaidtshart axis whereby. saldrstiffening- -.rpds isl-rotatable-with. said. a. shaftin' the wringing:fpesitionsandl is held against rotation in" the operating, positions-by the .edges r of said: guide: means; a :lateral spreader connected to the tree end'rof saidrod'and iadaptedto engage... Wilih'ithfi: lower edge of: said :cloth; and z-operatm meansfliorrotation ofsaid shaft.

33A self-wringing imopwwhich includes;v a

handle; 1 a headwmemberrrigidly attached-- to an r endn of MsaidxhandIe: :and having vertical guide a slot; extendinglongitudinally: wtherein a lateral holder extending; rigidly r from :the sides of said. head member and Tadaptedi-tto: 'carryithe upper.

edge of r a: mop; cloth; :a; stiffening rod-extending.

downwardlys through said verticaL-guide slot and freely pivotal .thereina alateral. spreader centrallyv connected to said stifieningmrod andiadapted. to engage withtherloweredgeof said clothparotatable shaft journaled in saidahead; member. on an. axis transverse of saidthandle and ,in the. plane of-said slotrand rpivotally connected. to said stiffening: rod on ran axis perpendicular to they axis -of said shaft v whereby; saidl rod can rotate with .said shaft 1 and epivot a about. its connection tosaid shaft withinsaidguideitslonand an oper-m atingharm extending ,fromthe. upper portion of said shaftoto rotate it andsaid lateral spreader".

totherebywring said .cloth. .f

4. A self-wringing mopwhich includes: a han-e dle; .a headninembler attached to one end ofisaid 1., handlebyt .a rearwardly extending. jferrule, :said u head member having a substantially longitudinal 1 upper wall with an aperture transverseof'said handle therein, anda vertical guide slotiexten'd ing,..longitudinallyiof said handlej'a cloth-holder havingha U-shaped central sectioni'attachedto' said; head member withjthe'gmouth" of the "U- section facing.forwardlyfandna pair of 'loopsxex tendinglaterallytherefrom-returning rearwardly" toterminalends. spaced apart near thebase'of said Urn-shaped section; said loops being adapted to carry the" upper edge of 'a'mop' cloth thereon;

a spreader havlnga, pair of laterallyexten'ding loops adaptedlto engage thelower edge'pf said" mop =cloth','v. said, loops being conne'cted11in the front by "a continuous"central"section; and. re

turning rearwardly with the terminal ends there-" ofspaced apart; a stiffeningrod connected to the central section oflsald spreader and extendingimpwardlyitoapa 'sthr ugbrgisa-id guide slot a pivotal rhook-lon the upper endzrof saidrod; -a

rotatableshaft journaled'i-n saidiupper wall aper V tureehavmg a} pivotal .=.connection.' perpendicular to the axis of said shaft in its lower end to receive:-

the: hook-end: of asaidi rod; and ipivotally support the same-z forwmovement==within said guide -'s1ot andi rotations; with. said; shaft;- and an arm" mountedson the upper endeofsaid shaft torotate wit and saidspreaderland therebyiwring said cloth.-

5. A selfswringing mop.- which includes: ahan-.

dlee'zavheadnmember.attachedito oneend of said.

handle -by: -a;rearwardly;.;extending ferrule, ,said headzmemberzhavi-ng -a substantially longitudinal upper wall-with an aperturettransverse tosaid handle-;-therein,:- and. a vertical guideislot extend-- ing longitudinallw of: saidahand-lesears 'projectingnfrom thecsides of .saidv-head'imember; .a cloth holder shaving? a ueshaped-i central section at-- itached ato"isaidaholdera by :said ears, with. the moutht-ohtheaUesection facingmfor-wardly, and; a pair 0f 1 loops extending? laterally therefrom which: return randehavee. rear terminal ends spaeedaapartand neanthe baseaof said. U-shaped section-era clothnontsaidiholder that normally hangs,.-.downward=lyfroman open-ended upper sleeve whichr-surrounds said holder loops qwith its ends at *thermouth; of said- I U-sh-aped central section "and athe center portion of-- said.- sleeve 1 bridging the space between said rear terminal.

ends; ,a.- similars open-ended sleeves at the .lower edge-10f @saideloth; spreader..havingiaipair of laterall mextendingrloops engagedrwith saidlower sleeve;.- said iloops-g beingg connected in the front by: a continuous centralisectiom. and. returning rearwardlyt'wi-ththe" terminal ends thereof spaced apart; 2'a2stiffeningerodzcentrally connected to said; spreader and? extending upwardlyu to pass through .sai'dguide slottin saidthead member; -a pivotalshookion the upper. end of said-rod; va

rotatable shaftdournaleddn thesaperture of saidupperwall having acpivotal connection .perpen--- dicu-larto the. axis ofosaidzshaft-in itslower end: to 1:receive.ltheihooksend of said -rod and-pivotally 1 support e-th'e-lsamevfor movement within said guide slot and .=rotation- 'with vsaidlshaft; and an arm mounted on the. uppertendiof said shaft to rotatetit andtsaid spreaderhandi thereby wring saidicloth. A

VIRGIL KENNETH COOPERJ References. Gitedlin thewfilelof .this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS' 

